Central dialect Best location for development

4.2.5 Central dialect

To ensure the extensibility of a written standard in a situation where there are different varieties of the language spoken, the central dialect needs to be identified. For this part, since each group of speakers feels so strongly about their own variety, we needed to use a set of criteria to identify which could possibly be the central variety based on other information we have collected from the community besides language attitudes. Variety is central if it has more speakers, institutional infrastructure, and therefore, more prestige, some literature, and so forth than its neighbors. Based on these criteria, the central variety of Pinasil would be the Guinaang variety. It has the largest population, as it is spoken in five villages of Pasil. The Guinaang area is the location of most, if not all, institutional infrastructures. This includes the LGU, Health Center, Pasil National High School Annex, Pasil Central School, Philippine National Police PNP, and the Roman Catholic Convent. Guinaang is also the center for transportation and communication. It is accessible by the existing transport system that goes straight to Amdalao where the institutional infrastructures are. It is also closer to Dangtalan, another barangay accessible by vehicle from another route. If there would be roadblocks or landslides along the national road going to the interior of Pasil, Guinaang would still be accessible from Lubuagan through Dangtalan. In addition, most literature written in the past was in the Guinaang variety refer to section 1.3.3. This part of Pasil’s history is very prominent and is known throughout the municipality and even beyond. And as was stated in section 4.2.4.2, Guinaang was the top choice as a standard variety.

4.2.6 Best location for development

4.2.6.1 Ethnoliguistic make-up of the village Considering Guinaang as the variety to be developed, Brgy. Guinaang would be the best location for development since it is at the center of other Guinaang-speaking villages. A language development team could be based in Guinaang proper where the former language workers stayed. Compared with Sitio Amdalao, where the LGU is located, this area is dense with Guinaang speakers, knowledgeable elders and with people who are familiar with language development activities. 4.2.6.2 Accessibility As mentioned in section 4.2.4.2, there are infrastructures in place. There is regular supply of electricity, and internet connection is possible through wireless broadband which allows communication possible outside of Pasil as fast as in most areas in the city. Generally, all Guinaang villages have a good signal except for Bagtayan due to its isolated location. Guinaang is also accessible by motor vehicle so transportation is not as challenging as in other areas. Usually, there is public transportation going to Guinaang from Tabuk twice daily. 4.2.6.3 Security Guinaang is generally peaceful. It has no known conflict with any tribes. The Philippine National Police is also stationed in Guinaang so should there be peace and order problems that would arise there is already a police force to handle them.

4.3 Extensibility of Lubuagan materials